We explain to you what it is know-how or “know how” and why it is important. In addition, we tell you what the know-how business.
What is the know-how?
Know-how It is an Anglicism (borrowing from English in the Spanish language) equivalent to “knowing how” or “knowing how”, and which in its original language is used to refer to practical or tacit knowledge, that is, to pragmatic knowledge, of use, far from theory and ideals which are useful for obtaining the expected purposes.
This term is used in many contexts linked to applied knowledge or experience itself: A person may not be formally educated and licensed for a trade, but have the know-how of the matter that is, lacking formal and theoretical understanding, but knowing how to obtain palpable results. For example, someone may not know how computers and software operate, but be able to operate them and perform complex tasks from the purest experience.
In that same sense, the term is applied to the industrial and corporate world. He know-how Business has to do with the experience and trajectory of the organization whether in their productive, organizational, administrative, financial or control tasks. It is, therefore, procedural knowledge, not abstract, but applied to obtaining results.
As occurs with other Anglicisms and foreignisms, the correct thing is that the term know-how be written in italics (and with its original script), although the Royal Spanish Academy and other regulatory bodies of the Spanish language suggest its replacement by “know how to do”, and insist that it is an unnecessary Anglicism, the use of which appeals to prestige. of the Anglo-Saxon language in the business world, or simply in fashion.
See also: Resources of a company
He know-how business
In the business world, the know-how is associated with a successful career in which the organization itself (and not just its members) accumulates “know-how”, that is, its own and effective way of doing things, which is not necessarily accompanied by academic certifications of any kind.
He know-how It is typical of the world of franchises, since in this business model what is sold is precisely procedural knowledge how to do things, according to the experience of a company established in the area, with many years of success in the business.
For example, when you buy a McDonald's franchise, you are actually buying the know-how of this hamburger chain, which has been among the first places in the fast food industry in the world for several decades. The company tells us where, how and in what way to install the restaurant, how to use the colors, the logo, etc., in order to ensure the success of a serial business model.
Features of the know-how business
Broadly speaking, the know-how business translates into:
- (Re)position the business. Come up with viable business ideas or know how to redirect a business towards a more advantageous area, in order to satisfy a latent customer demand. The latter often must be discovered.
- Detect threats. Anticipate change external to the organization and anticipate enough to adapt the corporate structure to a new environment with minimal damage and risk.
- Know how to make decisions. Knowing how to take risks when it is convenient and play conservatively when it is also convenient, that is, having more than one response to the complex scenarios that may arise.
- Create teams and set goals. Structure a team with goals set in advance in the most agile and convenient way possible, which translates into a solid starting point for the project.
- Set priorities correctly. Companies do not always make profits, and part of the know-how It is knowing how to deal with risks, losses and conflict situations.
Importance of know-how business
He know-how Business brings great benefits to a company in the face of its environment or competition due to customer favoritism. In general, people trust more in companies with a long history in their respective areas, for the same reason why they trust professionals with long working careers: academic and theoretical knowledge is undoubtedly fundamental in life, but it is little without the procedural, pragmatic and tacit knowledge that experience grants.
That is why companies with know-how They show off their respective careers and are offered as experts in their area, or as institutions of prestige and responsibility since they have been doing the same thing for years.
Continue with: Knowledge is power
References
- “Know how to do” on Wikipedia.
- “know-howunnecessary anglicism” in Fundéu.
- “What is know-how and why it is so important for companies” at the Illustrious Bar Association of Madrid.
